LATEST THINKING

From 2D to 3D

OVERVIEW

Technologies that Accenture Strategy calls “xR”—which include virtual reality and augmented reality—have been around for years. But new opportunities are on the way. As these technologies grow more sophisticated, they are enabling a broader shift from 2D to 3D—not just for gamers, but also for enterprise-grade solutions. The seismic impact of 3D enterprise solutions will expand far beyond the xR use cases of today.

The move from 2D to 3D will initiate a fundamental shift in how people expect to interact with real and digital objects across all digital devices, and that has significant enterprise implications.

Investor interest in xR technologies is growing at a record pace. xR funding increased 140% from 2015 to 2016.

KEY FINDINGS

The business opportunity of xR technologies is significant as they are translated into 3D solutions—even more significant than some might believe.

Opportunity … times 6. Conventional analysis sizes the xR market at about $137 billion annually. But according to Accenture Strategy, if one looks across the broader landscape, the 3D opportunity is about six times larger: $895 billion.

Virtual hands around the world. The shift from 2D to 3D will revolutionize the way we interact, collaborate and learn—whether in the same room or across the world.

3Difficulties. Although the shift from 2D to 3D will be far-reaching in its impact, both for companies and consumers, some barriers need to be overcome:

There are more than eight different xR platforms that developers work on, with no clear leader in sight and no concerted effort towards standardization.

Available content is constrained: STANDARDS are limited and there are not enough addressable eyeballs.

It’s time for high tech companies to refuel their innovation agendas by using digital technologies and extended talent ecosystems. Learn how to release high tech R&D talent potential in this new Accenture Strategy report. Read more.